Idea to Invention: What You Need to Know to Cash in on Your Inspiration

Abstract

Idea to Invention: What You Need to Know to Cash in on Your Inspiration Patricia Nolan-Brown AMACOM, 2014 272 pages, paperback $13.45As uncertainty plagues the economic landscape, many individuals have posed the question How can I be my own boss? or How can I be successful and self-reliant? Many have considered creating products only to be discouraged by the labyrinth of legal regulations or to be discouraged by friends, colleagues, and family. Patricia Nola-Brown's book Idea to Invention: What You Need to Know to Cash In on Your Inspiration is the ideal remedy for such afflictions.Nolan-Brown's book is designed to assist the reader with the process of invention and entrepreneurship. The author supports the reader by dispelling common obstacles such as unsupportive friends and family, guides the reader through self-assessments, untangles the maze of legal processes, and gives a clear path toward developing and invention followed by bringing the new product to market.Nolan-Brown brings real world experience into the book citing her many inventions and innovations. In the first chapter, the author provides the reader with her background. She paints herself as a common woman from a humble start who has been successful with bringing inventions to market. Her main invention, a rear facing baby seat mirror, is described and is a recurring theme throughout the book. This invention is designed so someone has the ability to see a child in a rear facing child seat while driving. She describes this as an idea she stumbled upon as a mother who couldn't see her child when driving. This clarifies the theme of recognizing a need for a new or improved product in the marketplace.The next section of the book, chapters 2-8, are designed as a self-reflection for the reader. Here, the author guides the reader through the process of self-discovery. This begins with a basic quiz, I.N.V.E.N.T., which is designed to measure personality basics so the reader has a foundation of their personality traits. Chapter 3 deals with curiosity and how to nature one's curiosity by always asking questions and researching ideas and interests. Chapter 4 deals with developing a thick skin to deal with and mitigate the criticisms and detaching from one's ideas. Chapter 5 explains how to talk with and feel passion for a project and also guides the reader through the concept of an elevator pitch. Chapter 6 gives the reader techniques to re-energize and stay energized such as short naps, baths, or even chewing gum supported by stories of famous people who have used such techniques. Chapter 7 provides useful techniques to inspire and nurture our creativity to keep ideas and projects flowing. Chapter 8 encourages us to develop tenacity and to not give up on our dreams and cites the example of Mrs. Fields Cookies and how Debbi Fields overcame adversity by having faith in herself, her idea, her product and ultimately fostering a highly successful company. …